Lake of Sainte-Croix

43°45′49″N 6°11′2″E / 43.76361°N 6.18389°E / 43.76361; 6.18389TypeReservoirPrimary inflowsVerdonPrimary outflowsVerdonCatchment area1,591 km² (614 sq mi)Basin countriesFranceSurface area22 km² (8.5 sq mi)Max. depth93 m (305 ft)Water volume760×10^⁶ m³ (27×10^⁹ cu ft)Surface elevation477 m (1,565 ft)SettlementsLes Salles-sur-Verdon, Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen

The Lake of Sainte-Croix (French: Lac de Sainte-Croix, pronounced [lak də sɛ̃tkʁwa]) is a reservoir in Southern France that was formed by the construction, between 1971 and 1974 (when it was put into service),^[1] of a reinforced-concrete arch dam, the Sainte-Croix Dam [fr]. It marks the departmental border between Var to the southeast and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the northwest.

The reservoir is fed by the Verdon river, at the outlet of the Verdon Gorge. It holds a maximum of 761 million cubic metres of water. The dam, which generates 142 million kWh of electricity per year, is 94 metres high, 7.5 metres thick at its base and 3 metres thick at its crest.

The village of Les Salles-sur-Verdon stands by the lake; it was rebuilt on the shore after the original lower village was destroyed to make room for the reservoir. Other villages around the lake are Bauduen and Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. The lake comprises a sole island, the Île de Costebelle (Island of Costebelle), part of the commune of Les Salles-sur-Verdon.

• 
  The Lake of Sainte-Croix seen from the outlet of the Verdon Gorge
• 
  Les Salles-sur-Verdon seen from the southeast
• 
  Les Salles-sur-Verdon by the lake
• 
  The Île de Costebelle

• Media related to Lac de Sainte-Croix at Wikimedia Commons